Coffs Harbour in the north coast region of NSW, is popular for its Big Banana – a mammoth monument with amusement park and delicious ice creamery. But it’s the specific geography of Coffs Harbour – a coastal town with its own port coupled with lovely mild climate, which makes it a very popular tourist, all seasons destination.
Casually known as “Coffs”, the town has a distinctly chilled atmosphere. There’s an added elixir of youth with its own university and getting there is easy too with direct flights from Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Newcastle.
There are plenty of things to do in Coffs Harbour. Enjoy beautiful beaches, swim, surf, fish. dive, go reef or game fishing, white water rafting, sit under waterfalls or kayak through Emerald Creek. Coffs Harbour also has the breath taking Solitary Islands Marine Park – teeming with wildlife in its waters.
Explore out of the water too. Visit stunning dense rainforests and coastal trails for sensational views. Walk the 1.6km Look At Me Now Headland with a fabulous birds eye view of the ocean and beaches and spot the local kangaroos.
The Forest Sky Pier at Sealy Lookout also offers incredible views up and down Coff’s coastline to the mountains. Watch for wildlife and seasonal whales on Muttonbird Island – home to a massive population of wedge-tailed shearwater birds and Education Centre.
Drive outside Coffs for just 20 mins, and you’ll reach the cultural pot of Woolgoolga – with its eclectic array of excellent cafes & multi-cultural restaurants, Bollywood beach markets, cultural performances, smoking ceremonies plus the ever popular CurryFest.
And if you don’t want crowds, travel south to one of Australia’s most beautiful untouched (and unpatrolled) beaches and walk the 7km of sweeping sands of Bongil Beach. There are plenty of bright pink pigface succulents here and keep your eye on the waves as dolphins regularly frolic in these wild and untamed waters full of rips and deep currents.
The seaside town of Mullaway is a $4 bus ride away from Coffs Harbour and is a must with pet friendly beaches, surfing lessons and its general store is the local hub for the best burgers and chips!
Coffs Harbour is 5.5 hours drive north of Sydney and 4 hours 20 minutes south of Brisbane.
Wellness & Pampering
- Aqua Pool & Spa
- Beauty on The Promenade. Visit Beauty on the Promenade, Coffs Harbour
- At Mindys Salon 44 was started by award-winning hair stylist Mindy, and a popular Coffs Harbour hair salon located at 13 Vernon Street, Coffs Harbour.
- Tranquility Beauty Spa is located in the lush tropical surrounds of Pacific Bay Resort Coffs Harbour, visit Tranquility Spa Treatment
- A talented team from London Ivy Beauty House can do your lashes, brows, tanning, cosmetic injectables. Look and book London Ivy Beauty House
- RhiDesign Hairdresser
- Toys Holistic Health & Wellness
- Coffs Harbour Hair Studio
- Mitime Coffs Harbour
- Thrive Pilates
- Just Breathe Wellness Studio
- Coffs Yoga Therapy
- Eminay Hair Studio
- The Good Beautician
- My Yoga Womens Coffs Harbour
- Hand & Body Concepts
- Retreat Day Spa
- Fig Tree Day Spa
- Jade Hair Design
- Holistico
- HTC Wellness Studio
- Endota Spa
- Spa Elements Australia
- The Treatment Room
- Woolgoolga Body Works located at 2/5 Market St, Woolgoolga NSW.
- Pure Hair and Beauty
- Anna Miley–Â Yoga and Therapeutics/Mindfulness
- Hara Beyond Movement Studio
- Genesis Health + Fitness
- Beach Bodies 24 hr Health located upstairs Jetty Shopping Centre, Suite 35/361 Harbour Dr, Coffs Harbour NSW helps you to maintain your fitness journey locally in Coffs Harbour.
- Innovative, high-intensity functional group workouts at F45 Training will help you continue your fitness on holidays with cardio resistance-based strength training, or a hybrid of both, all geared toward everyday life.
- Hair by RenAli – Shop 6/58 Beach St, Woolgoolga
- Woolgoolga Tai Chi and Qigong – call Michael (02) 6654 840
- Luxe Artistry Hair Boutique – 102/100 Harbour Dr
Explore & Discover
- In Coff’s they love everything “BIG”, so if you want a family fun day, The ”Big Banana” has a Giant Slide, the biggest Water Park between the Big Smoke (Sydney) and the Gold Coast, with whopping slides to scream your way to the bottom and a kids Aqua Play area. A Toboggan Ride overlooks the sparkling Pacific Ocean, a 36 hole Mini-Golf course, ice-skating, a state-of-the-art Laser Tag arena, a Demolition Derby, Ice Skating rink and a 4D Ride Simulator, featuring four of the latest and best ride simulator films in the world! So much to do and see…visit Steve McEwan’s Reptile World, Coffs Candy Kitchen, the Opal Centre or the Aloha Shack and a Choc Coated Banana from the Cafe, then shop to your heart’s content in the Gift Shop, the largest banana themed gift in the universe! The Big Banana Fun has a load of packages, see here…Big Banana packages.  So don’t forget to scoff a banana sundae while you’re at The Big Banana Fun Park. Look out too for the new Escape Rooms. If you’re looking for something a little more sedate, especially after lunch, try the machines at Go Bananas Fun Zone or experience the World of Bananas Theatre and plantation tour.
- Take the Forest Sky Pier, Niigi Niigi only a 10-minute drive from Coffs Harbour through banana plantations to the lookout that opens up a stunning vista across the coastline. Pack a picnic and good walking shoes because there are rainforest trails too, noting cars have access during daylight hours, and is accessible too for people with mobility issues. Your visit is free with amenities (toilets), covered picnic tables.
- For garden and nature lovers, enter the Coffs Harbour Botanic Gardens located in Hardacre Street, an eco-accredited sanctuary of peace that stretches 20 hectares with gardens, Â lawns, small ponds and pavilion/stage where unique vegetation and plants flourish. You’ll find easy terrain for people with mobility issues and easy wheelchair and stroller access. Picnics are welcome in the natural forest areas and planted gardens. You can explore Indigenous plant or relax by the lake lapping up the serenity.
- Run free with pooch at Mullaway’s pet friendly beach
- Be immersed in Gumbaynggirr indigenous culture through Wajaana Yaam Gumbaynggirr Adventure Tours where they will give you an authentic indigenous experience in three amazing locations (Red Rock, Moonee Creek and Coffs Creek) on the grounds of the Gumbaynggirr tribal nation. Tours are available for schools and corporates.
- Celebrate the unique Punjabi heritage at Curryfest
- Visit Solitary Islands and whale watch, birdwatch, hike, dive, snorkel or swim
- Explore Waterfall Way, an 85 kilometre drive from Coffs to Armidale makes it a fabulously scenic roadtrip that would ordinarily take 2 hours, but since it passes through passing rainforest, river valleys, waterfalls, woodlands and farmland including New England and Dorrigo National Parks you’ll definitely want to do this unhurried. Stop at Ebor Falls (only minutes from Ebor Falls car park) and a drive and not for the faint hearted, is the windy steep drive through the tropical rainforest of Dorrigo National Park to a height of 750 metres at Dorrigo Mountain, but oh so worth the views! Visit Cathedral Rock National Park, Point lookout in New England National Park, and the Wollomombi Gorge and Falls picnic areas (near Armidale), which has one of the state’s highest drops. Find out more Waterfall Way Scenic Drive
- Looking for a beach? Find out more about Jetty Beach Coffs Haarbour that is patrolled in NSW summer holidays, offers locals and visitors full amenities with an accessible beachmat and beach wheelchairs, with a support person accompanying guests for people in wheelchairs. Nearby is Jetty Foreshores Park where you can shower after a day in the water and on the sane, toilets, barbecues, picnic tables, seating and shelter, pathways for roller blading and cycling. They think of everything, even a children’s playground. The precinct has restaurants, Marina, Yacht Club and if you’re getting there by train a railway station that stops here is a short, level walk.
- Learn about creatures of the sea at Dolphin Marine Conservation Park; dolphins, Australian sea lions, penguins, fish and turtles. Experience marine animals up close and connect with these magnificent creatures and learn why it’s critical to protect them.
- Explore Red Rock to the coastal village of Sawtell
- Scuba dive with Dive Quest
- Visit the local sea life at Solitary Islands Aquarium
- Explore Muttonbird Island Nature Reserve and Aboriginal cultural significance
- Buy some sweets at Carobana Confectionery Factory
- Make furry friends at Billabong Zoo Koala and Wildlife Park (1hr from Coff’s)
- Try archery
- Enjoy the Butterfly House
- Visit The Clog Barn
- Join a tap class
- Take in the views at Sealy Lookout
- Ride a camel (check opening times)
- Have a Treetops Adventure
- Coffs Harbour Regional Gallery is transitioning to a new gallery to be known as the Yarrila Arts and Museum, a museum located in the restored 1907 courthouse and police station in Yarrila Place. Visit Coffs Harbour Regional Gallery (Yarrila Gallery and Museum) The building will feature an eclectic collection of displays exploring the relationship between the region’s residents and surrounding waterways. The eclectic representation will feature from Gumbaynggirr stories of spiritual connection to the land, to the stories of lighthouse keepers, pioneers, timber workers, gold miners, farmers and surfers.
Good Eats
- Experience ocean front dining at Latitude 30 with its sweeping South Pacific and marina views and locally sourced seasonal ingredients prepared and are bursting with flavour. You might see whales frolicking in the distance. Book Latitude 30
- Mana Chita (African, Ethiopian) offers a unique array of cuisines from the Horn of Africa region, offering a range of dishes from mild stews and stir fries to super hot curries. Mana Chita caters for vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free and special dietary options where possible.
- Emerald Beach Pizza
- Located in a serene, tucked-away location on the water’s edge of the scenic Coffs Creek is Shearwater Restaurant for breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner and drinks alongside Coffs Creek views.
- Hungry Bears, an Asian fusion restaurant is located at 79 Grafton St, Coffs Harbour, NSW.
- Sukura Harbour provides authentic Japanese cuisine that emphasises the traditional culture and ingredients of Japan.
- An array of Filipino fare can be enjoyed at Pig and Khai located at 81 Grafton Street, Coffs Harbour, NSW.
- You’ll discover the fragrant spices of curries to the crispy textures of naan bread, that’s a celebration of North Indian cuisine at Taste of North India.
- Suban Thai serves authentic Thai food utilising the freshest ingredients and where possible try to be local produce daily. Located at Shop 7, Coffs Retail Centre Gordon Street Coffs Harbour.
- Bombay Brasserie offers northern Indian cuisine is located at 99 Park Beach Road, Coffs Harbour, NSW
- CreAsian chef is Owen Young is a third-generation Coffs Harbour restaurateur who grew up in the family business and followed his grandfather, father, uncle and aunt into the family’s well-known restaurant. Chinese and South East Asian cuisine features. Located at Shop 47, 35-61 Harbour Drive, Coffs Harbour @creasian888
- Eat, drink and chill at Element Bar with its casual dining and live music. Drop into Element Bar
- Dark Arts Cafe Restaurant and Bar is open for breakfast and lunch only or open any time for booked functions and events.
- Hoey Moey is an award-winning bar, restaurant & function venue in Coffs Harbour. Live entertainment and dining in newly renovated surrounds with spacious beer garden, open plan bar and bistro.
Foodies
- Peach and Wolf Bakery strive to bake the best possible, long fermented; nutrient dense sourdough and savoury and sweet pastries are a source of pride for this humble bakery.
- Twilight Food Market commences in September through to April each year, from 5pm to 9pm. Twilight Food Market Coffs Harbour
- Coffs Harbour Growers Market is held in the City Square every Thursday between 8:00 am and 2:30 pm. Coffs Coast Growers MarketÂ
- Harbourside Markets are on every Sunday from 8 am to 2pm. Visit Harbourside Markets
- Bite Foods weekly food tours combine art and culture, and host a bi-annual Coffs Coast Long Lunch which features guest producers as speakers as well as great food. Visit Bite Food Tours
- Coffs Coast Harvest hosts an exceptional collection of suppliers, growers, artisans, butchers, bakers, and other locally owned food businesses on the Mid North Coast. The Burger Bar opens at 5pm, and they can cater and do events.
- West High Street Butchery located at 85 W High St, Coffs Harbour
- Savour a Riptide Pizza – takeaway only located in Woolgoolga, NSW
- Pre order a gourmet Booshie Box by @jessicabalnave
Retail Escapes
- Made With Love Market
- Coffs City Uptown Markets
- Jetty Village Shopping Centre – 361 Harbour Drive, Coffs Harbour
- Go Vita Coffs Central is a health food store with a wide range of vitamins and supplements, skin care products, tea and coffee, children’s books and toys, as well as other items. Go Vita Coffs Harbour
- Coffs Harbour Pottery
- Dolphin Marine
- Red Sparrow Tea CompanyÂ
- See where greenery improves the scenery at Nursery
If you’ve decided Coffs Harbour sounds like an amazing holiday destination, why not browse our Stays with a WOW accommodation options.
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[…] Throughout your road trip, be sure to sample the local cuisine, including fresh seafood, delicious fish and chips, and gourmet dining options. Travellarks has a eating out section within “Things to do around Things to do around Ulmarra, NSW “ or Things to do around Coffs Harbour […]